DETROIT – Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith never dreamed that both he and his younger brother, Reilly, would suit up against each other in an NHL game as they did on Tuesday night.

No, his hockey fantasies were far more ambitious.

“We were always wanting to be on the same team, because we battled so hard against each other,” Brendan said. “We always thought about making it to the pros and playing with each other in a Stanley Cup game.”

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Tuesday’s home opener, which Reilly and the visiting Dallas Stars won 2-1, was not quite the culmination of that dream scenario, yet both brothers conceded that it was special nonetheless.

What began as boyhood games in the basement of the family’s Toronto home, has now escalated all the way to the highest levels of the game. Brendan, 24, explained the drastic similarity between playing against Reilly, 21, these days.

“In basement hockey growing up, there were chipped teeth and broken bones,” Brendan said with a smile. “It’s no different out here. You play to win. We were both brought up to be competitive, and we both are.”

Reilly concurred. Neither has ever been able to yield an inch.

“Most of the time, you’re just battling so hard,” Reilly, a right winger, said. “You see the number two on back of the jersey, and the first thing you think is, ‘He’s not getting past me this time, I’m not going to give him this one.’”

Incredibly, the duo had never played against each other once before this season. The Smiths had always played on the same team until reaching the pro level. Thus far, they’ve met four times this year alone: three in the American Hockey League and once in the NHL.

The constant at all four of those games has been the presence of family. On Tuesday, the Smiths’ parents, older brother, grandfather and several cousins were in attendance at Joe Louis Arena. They made the trek south to witness the historic family occasion. It was a gesture not taken lightly by the players themselves.

“It’s great having them be able to travel here,” Reilly said. “It’s great having that kind of support and (having) them drive four or five hours to see a game.”

Apparently, it is a common question the Smith family is asked, regarding where their loyalties lie. The eldest Smith brother, 25-year-old Rory, is a professional lacrosse player in Denver. Both of the junior Smiths were wondering whose side Rory would take.

“I honestly don’t know (whose side),” Reilly said, jokingly. “I think he’s on the fence there. People always ask my family who they’re rooting for and they always say both of us.”

Still, when it came to the topic of Rory’s allegiances, his status will have to remain unclear.

“I’m still interested to see who my older brother was cheering for,” Brendan said.

If all four games the brothers have played against each other this season are tallied, the record is even, with each player winning twice. If everything goes according to plan, and with the Red Wings defense decimated by injury it appears Brendan will be a fixture on the blue line, there will be opportunities to break the tie.

The Stars visits Detroit again on January 29, while the Red Wings make the trek to Dallas for the very last regular season game on April 29. Until then, the brothers Smith will have to be content with the deadlock.